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Dan We Guere Wobe Mask 25″ – Ivory Coast/Liberia – African Art

$175.00

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SKU: 1016813 Categories: , ,
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This mask was carved in the style of the Dan people with We, Guere and Wobe influence. The mask has metal teeth and a figure on his head. It measures 25 inches tall and weighs 6.5 pounds. The figure on top is slightly loose and there is some cracking, scuffing and general wear and tear throughout. *Stand not included*

Type of Object

Face Mask

Country of Origin

Ivory Coast

Ethnicity

Dan Guere, Dan, We, Wobe

Material

Wood, pigment, vegetable fiber and metal

Approximate Age

Unknown

Height (Inches)

25"

Width (Inches)

9"

Depth (Inches)

8"

Weight (Pounds)

6.5 lbs

Overall Condition

Loose figure on top. Cracking and wear and tear.

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Tribe Information

About the Dan People

The Dan are known for their superb woodwork. Masks are the single most paramount form of artwork created by the Dan, creating a bridge between the supernatural and physical worlds.
Read more about the Dan here.

About the Dan People

“Dan people, who are also known by the name Yacuba, live in the western part of the Ivory Coast and into Liberia where the land is forested in the south and bordered by a savannah in the north. The 320,000 Dan people make their living from farming cocoa, rice and manioc. Before unifying secret societies were set up at the turn of the century, each Dan village was an autonomous socio-political unit governed by a chief elected on the base of his wealth and social position. Today, the leopard society acts as a major regulator of Dan life and initiates young men during their isolated periods of three to four months in the forest. Dan people have achieved notoriety in the area for their entertainment festivals which were historically village ceremonies, but are today performed largely for tourists. During these festivals, masked performers dance on stilts.”

About the We people

“The We, whose name means ‘men who easily forgive’, live in the forests on the western frontier of the Ivory Coast. They are in fact two separate tribes – The Gere (also known as Ngere) and the Wobe – although they share numerous customs and beliefs. Confederations govern the tribes – the largest is the warrior confederation which is led by a military chief, who also acts as a civil authority. The family unit plays an important role in We social life. Each is led by a patriarch, revered for his wisdom and wealth, who supervises the clan’s life – he organizes weddings, settles conflicts and influences religious life.
We carvers seem to have focused their skills on carving powerful face masks to which paraphernalia such as cowrie shells, bells, nails and feathers were attached. These applied pieces were thought to reinforce the power of the mask.

Source:
Baquart, Jean-Baptiste. The Tribal Arts of Africa. New York: Thames and Hudson Inc. 1998. Print.

About the Wobe People

“The We, whose name means ‘men who easily forgive’, live in the forests on the western frontier of the Ivory Coast. They are in fact two separate tribes – The Gere (also known as Ngere) and the Wobe – although they share numerous customs and beliefs. Confederations govern the tribes – the largest is the warrior confederation which is led by a military chief, who also acts as a civil authority. The family unit plays an important role in We social life. Each is led by a patriarch, revered for his wisdom and wealth, who supervises the clan’s life – he organizes weddings, settles conflicts and influences religious life.
We carvers seem to have focused their skills on carving powerful face masks to which paraphernalia such as cowrie shells, bells, nails and feathers were attached. These applied pieces were thought to reinforce the power of the mask.”
“Wobe masks have protruding globular eyes and enlarged lips.”

Source:
Baquart, Jean-Baptiste. The Tribal Arts of Africa. New York: Thames and Hudson Inc. 1998. Print.

Additional Information

About the Mask

“Dan masks are characterized by a concave face, a pointed chin, a protruding mouth, an upturned nose, a high-domed forehead, and are often covered in a rich brown patina. Similar masks are found throughout the country, but regional stylistic variations occur. For example, northern face masks tend to have very fine features, a high-domed smooth forehead, eyes set in the middle of the face and a very smooth brown patina obtained by immersing the masks in a pool of mud. Southern masks, on the other hand, have protruding features and a rougher patina obtained by applying vegetal pigments.”